Laurel: Lighthouse Bay noses out 64-1 longshot in Smart Halo

Lighthouse Bay withstood a stretch bid from 64-1 longshot Ek Haseena and a jockey’s objection to prevail in Saturday’s $125,000 Smart Halo Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.

Based at Saratoga with trainer George Weaver, Lighthouse Bay ($6.60) bumped against Ek Haseena, whose only victory came against $25,000 maiden claimers, near the sixteenth pole and the two fillies brushed each other again nearing the wire. Kevin Navarro claimed Lighthouse Bay and jockey Kendrick Carmouche caused interference that hampered Ek Haseena in the stretch, but the stewards allowed the result to stand.

“We came together but every time I was able to straighten her back up,” Carmouche said. “We bumped a couple times but I thought it was a 50-50 situation and the stewards probably saw the same thing, which is why they left it official.”

Lighthouse Bay, a daughter of Speightstown owned by Richlyn Farm, finished second sprinting on turf in her career debut, then scored by 1 3/4 lengths when she was switched to dirt for her second start. She completed the six furlongs of the Smart Halo in 1:12.11.

Ed Haseena was 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Power Lady, who came into the race unbeaten in two starts.

New York shipper Baby J tired after dueling up front early and finished fifth. Jax and Jill, unbeaten in four starts out of town, finished sixth as the 5-2 third choice in a field of seven.